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WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Otterbein University women's lacrosse team lost a nail-biter contest Wednesday afternoon in its home opener, falling to Kenyon College by a narrow 8-7 margin.

Otterbein (1-4) opened strong behind a pair of goals from leading-scorer Katy Williams and then freshman Izzy Naumovski in the first five minutes, the latter being assisted by fellow newcomer Ema Pusecker.

Kenyon (2-2) responded to hit the scoreboard with three-straight goals by the midway point of the first half, but the Cards regrouped with a pair of free-position goals from junior Veronica Wagner to jump back ahead, 4-3.

The Ladies drew even with a goal from Lucy Somers on a clear-attempt sequence and then Otterbein capped the first-half scoring with a rare man-down goal off the stick of Williams, coming just 39 seconds before intermission.

Kenyon vaulted back in front early in the second half thanks to Kat Englert, who scored twice in the opening five minutes to settle the visitors into another lead. That score remained the same until the 14:19 mark when Williams tied the game at 6-6, but Alexis Redford-Maung Maung found the back of the net twice for Kenyon down the stretch to open an 8-6 gap.

The Cards didn't go quietly, getting a free-position score from Williams with just 90 seconds remaining in regulation and then regaining possession after a very late Kenyon turnover. Otterbein sprinted up the field for a successful clear, but the momentum was halted by an opposition foul and then the attack was unable to get off a final shot.

Otterbein received four goals from Williams and won 12 of 17 draw controls, eight coming courtesy of Wagner. Kenyon held a minimal 20-18 shot advantage as Englert matched Williams with a game-best four goals. Both teams turned the ball over an identical 21 times.

The Cards will be back in action this coming weekend, traveling to play Mount St. Joseph at 1 p.m. The game was added after a recent contest with Olivet College was canceled.